Cargill buys dietary fibre technology from Fugeia
Cargill has acquired technical knowhow for the extraction and purification for fibres and antioxidant sources of wheat bran
Mechelen, Belgium � 28 February 2013 � Cargill's starches and sweeteners business has completed the purchase of technology and corresponding intellectual property for the extraction and purification of the dietary fibre and antioxidant source of wheat bran from the innovative health and nutrition company FUGEIA. With the agreement, signed on Friday 22 February, FUGEIA�s proprietary products, permits and technologies become an integral part of Cargill's starches and sweeteners business in Europe.
FUGEIA, a spin-off from the University of Leuven, is an innovation-driven company active in the field of health and nutrition with a focus on digestive health. It has developed a proprietary method for extraction and purification of the fibre and antioxidant source of wheat bran. The resulting product is a neutral smooth tasting product consisting of arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides (AXOS). AXOS is highly soluble in water and can be mixed in any food or beverage product, including dairy and non-dairy beverages, ready-to-eat cereals, cookies and biscuits, bread and pastry, as well as dietary supplements and therapeutics, so delivering the health benefit potential of wheat bran across a range of products.
The acquisition is a natural extension of Cargill's starches and sweeteners' strategy to continuously explore new markets and technologies in order to develop the full potential of its products. In addition to starch and starch derivates, Cargill produces a wide range of vegetable proteins and fibres for applications in both the food and the feed industry.
“This is a very important acquisition for our starches and sweeteners business. We believe this technology will become a new product line for developing sustainable solutions that create value for our customers and consumers," says Kathy Fortmann, head of Cargill's starches and sweeteners business in Europe.
Willem Broekaert, co-founder and managing director of Fugeia, commented on the acquisition: “It is very rewarding to see that this technology is now well on its way to reaching the market. We are very pleased that Cargill, a global well-trusted producer and marketer of food ingredients, has recognized the potential of AXOS as an innovative food and feed ingredient. With its global R&D, production, sales, and marketing capabilities, Cargill is very well placed to make AXOS a success. ”
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Laura Brems: +32 15 401 616, [email protected] |
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Notes for editors:
Cargill
Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 142,000 people in 65 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to sharing its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business.
For more information, visit http://www.cargill.com.
Cargill's European starches and sweeteners business
Cargill's European starches and sweeteners business is headquartered in Mechelen, Belgium and employs around 3,000 people in various locations across Europe. The business sells a full range of products to customers in the food, paper, cardboard, corrugating, pharmaceutical and animal feed sectors.
Fugeia
Fugeia is an innovation-driven company active in the field of health and nutrition with a focus on digestive health. The company develops proprietary products and technologies targeted for a broad range of market segments, including dairy and non-dairy beverages, ready-to-eat cereals, cookies and biscuits, bread and pastry, as well as dietary supplements and therapeutics.
As a spin-off from the University of Leuven (K.U.Leuven) and University College Sint-Lieven (KaHo Sint-Lieven), the company's success is built on solid scientific grounds. Fugeia's products are the fruit of several years of basic research on natural plant-based compounds that improve health and well-being, and prevent diseases.
Fugeia was founded in February 2008. It is a privately held company led by an experienced management team and board of directors, and is backed by a solid international consortium of investors.
Media Contact: [email protected]